WEBVTT UTOR NATHANPSMITH SAYS THEY'RE CONSIDERINGPAPPEALING TO A HIGHER COURT.PIT'S BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE FORMERPBACKROAD ANTHEM FRONT-MAN CRAIGPSTRICKLAND, AND HIS FRIEND CHASEPMORLAND DIED DURING A HUNTINGPTRIP IN OKLAHOMA.PPAIGE: STRICKLAND'S FAMIL ISPNOW WORKING TO MAKE SURE CRAIG'SPLEGACY HELPS OTHERS.P40/29'S PEDRO RIVERA SPOKE WITHPHIS FATHER IN AN INTERVIEWPYOU'LL SEE ONLY ON 40/29.PPEDRO THE FAMILY OF CRAIGP: STRICKLAND UNDERSTANDS MANYPPEOPLE CONNECTED WITH HIMPTHROUGH HIS MUSIC WITH BACKROADPANTHEM.PBUT ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HISPDEATH, HIS FATHER RANDY TOLD MEPIT WAS IT WAS CRAIG'S FAITH THATPLEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ONPEVERYONE HE MET.P>> THE YEAR HAS BEEN FILLED WITHPUNIMAGINABLE PAIN AND SORROW.PWE HAVE ALSO FELT SO MUCHPGOODNESS AND GRACE.PREPORTER: DECEMBER 27, THAT WASPTHE LAST TIME FAMILY AND FRIENDSPSAW CRAIG STRICKLAND AND CHASEPMORLAND ALIVE.PEARLIER THAT DAY THEY SAT IN THEPVERY DEN WHERE CRAIG'S HUNTINGPACHIEVEMENTS DRAPE THE WALLS.P>> THEY WERE IN THIS ROOM HAD AP, BOWL OF STEW, CHASE AND CRAIGPAND THEY LEFT.PTHERE WAS AN ICE STORM COMINGPAND I WAS WORRIED ABOUT GETTINGPTHEM TO THE LAKE THROUGH THE ICEPSTORM.PI DIDN'T IMAGINE WHAT THEY WOULDPBE FACED WITH AFTER THEY GOTPTHERE.PPEDRO BOTH MORLAND ANDP: STRICKLAND DIED DURING THEIRHUNTING TRIP AFTER THEIR BOATPCAPSIZED.PMORLAND WAS FOUND THE FOLLOWINGPDAY BUT IT TOOK CREWS 7 DAYS TOP, FIND STRICKLAND JUST FEET AWAYPFROM THE CRASH SITE.P>> CRAIG'S TESTIMONY WAS BEINGPSHARED AROUND THE WORLD I FELTPLIKE HE WOULD BE FOUND UNTIL GODPWAS FINISHED USING HIS STORY PPEDRO RANDY STRICKLAND TOLD MEP: HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE WASPVIEWED IN 23 COUNTRIESPWORLDWIDE.PCRAIG LEAVES BEHIND MUSIC WITHPBACKROAD ANTHEM BUT ALSO, CRAIGPIS LEAVING BEHIND LASTINGPMEMORIES THROUGH FAITH.P>> WE'VE DECIDED TO START APCRAIG STRICKLAND FOUNDATION.PWE WANT TO MATCH CRAIG'S PASSIONPTHROUGH SOME CAMPAIGNS.PPEDRO THE NEWLY FORMEDP: FOUNDATION WILL FOCUS ONPHELPING THE STUDENT MOBILIZATIONPGROUP AT THE UNIVERSITY OFPARKANSAS.PIT'S A GROUP WHICH BUILDSPRELIGIOUS LEADERS ON COLLEGEPCAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.PTHERE WILL ALSO BE A FOCUS INPPROMOTING AND CREATING YOUTHPWORSHIP GROUPS, WHICH CRAIG TOOKPPART IN.P>> HE STRONGLY BELIEVED INPLEADING OTHERS TO CHRIST, HE HADPSTRONG FAITH.PPEDRO NOW ONE YEAR LATER, WITHP: THAT FAITH IN MIND, RANDYPKEEPS CRAIG MEMORY ON HIS WRISTPWITH A DAILY REMINDER.PBIBLE VERSE DANIEL 12:3.P>> THOSE WHO LEAD OTHERS DOWNPTHE PATH OF RIGHTEOUS THEIRPSTARS WILL SHINE FOREVER ANDPEVER.PEDRO SO THE FIRST EVENT THEYP: WILL HAVE IS A HUNTING TRIPPBACK AT KAW LAKE ON JANUARY 28PWITH THE HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICERSPWHO WERE OUT ON THE SEARCH.PIF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUTPMORE INFORMATION GO TOP4029TV.COM, WE HAVE A LINK TOPTHE FOUNDATION ON OUR PAGE.PPAIGE: NEXT YEAR, TWO MEMORIALPSCHOLARSHIPS WILL BE GIVEN TOPSTUDENTS AT ALMA AND VAN BURENPHIGH SCHOOLS IN THE NAMES OFPCRAIG STRICKLAND AND CHASEPMORLAND.PAS PEDRO MENTIONED YOU CAN MAKE

Foundation created in honor of Backroad Anthem front man

Family of Craig Strickland responsible for foundation's creation

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Updated: 10:51 PM CST Dec 27, 2016

FORT SMITH, Ark. —

It's been one year since former Backroad Anthem front man Craig Strickland and his friend Chase Morland died during a hunting trip in Kay County, Oklahoma. Strickland's family is now working to make sure Craig's legacy is used to help others.

The Strickland family understands many people connected with him through his music with Backroad Anthem. But on the anniversary of his death, his father Randy said it was Craig's faith that left a lasting impression on everyone he met, so now they are using his legacy to teach and inspire others.

The family started Craig Strickland Foundation.

December 27 was the last time family and friends saw Strickland and Morland alive. Earlier that day, the two men sat in the den where Craig's hunting achievements drape the walls.

"They were in this room, had a bowl of stew, Chase and Craig, and they left. There was an ice storm coming, and I was worried about getting them to the lake through the ice storm. I didn't imagine what they would be faced with after they got there" Randy Strickland said.

Both Morland and Craig Strickland died during their hunting trip from hypothermia after their boat capsized. Morland was found the following day, but it took crews seven days to find Craig Strickland, who was just feet away from the crash site.

"Craig's testimony was being shared around the world. I felt like he would be found until God was finished using his story" Randy Strickland said.

Randy Strickland said Craig's memorial service was viewed in 23 countries worldwide. Craig leaves behind his music as well as lasting memories through faith.

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"The year has been filled with unimaginable pain and sorrow but we've also felt so much goodness and grace" Randy Strickland said.

The newly-formed foundation will focus on helping the Student Mobilization group at the University of Arkansas. It's a group that builds religious leaders on college campuses across the country. There will also be a focus in promoting and creating youth worship groups, which Craig took part in.

"He strongly believed in leading others to Christ. He had strong faith" Randy Strickland said.

The first event for the foundation will be a hunting trip at Kaw Lake on January 28 with the Highway Patrol officers who were out on the search.

Next year, there will be two memorial scholarships awarded to students at Alma and Van Buren high schools in the names of Craig Strickland and Chase Morland, respectively. People can make a donation toward the scholarships by visiting the foundation website.